Cannot install Native Application silently

[RandomReado]

I have an existing Native Application installed that I'm trying to update silently, i.e. without being prompted if I want to replace the application. In command prompt on Windows 7 x64 I have tried the following:

C:\NativeAppUpdate.exe -silent

The command fails with the following message:

failed due to bad configuration

At this point I Googled the error and came across a post on this forum of something experiencing a similar issue. Adobe suggested using the ARH tool to get a better understanding of what the error was. So I tried the ARH tool as follows:

arh -installAppSilent NativeAppUpdate.exe

Unfortunately that failed too with the following message:

Failed (consult log)

So I looked at the log and found the following entries:

[2012-07-02:17:04:35] Application Installer begin with version 3.1.0.4880 on Windows 7 x86

[2012-07-02:17:04:35] Commandline is: -silent NativeApp_1_0_1.exe

[2012-07-02:17:04:35] Installed runtime (3.1.0.4880) located at c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe AIR

[2012-07-02:17:04:35] Unpackaging file:///C:/NativeApp_1_0_1.exe to C:\Users\d.reade\AppData\Local\Temp\flaC061.tmp

[2012-07-02:17:04:35] Got an unexpected fatal error while unpackaging: [ErrorEvent type="error" bubbles=false cancelable=false eventPhase=2 text="not an AIR file" errorID=0]

[2012-07-02:17:04:35] Application Installer end with exit code 7

It says it's not an AIR file, which is correct. However if I run the update file without the silent argument, it asks me if I want to replace the application and installs fine. So why does it fail when the silent argument is used and is there any other way around this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[RandomReado]

Anyone?

[chris.campbell]

There might be a problem with your installer.  I gave this a try (created a basic native installer project) and I was able to use the -silent flag without any problem.

Chris

[RandomReado]

I just tried again now but it didn't work.

With AIR Runtime 3.1, here is what I did:

1) Create a Flex Project (Desktop Application with Flex SDK 4.6.0)

2) Export Native Installer package, called NativeAppTest_1.0.0.exe

3) Edit the application xml file and change <versionNumber> value "1.0.0" to "1.0.1"

4) Export Native Installer package, called NativeAppTest_1.0.1.exe

5) Copy both installers to C:\

5) Install C:\NativeAppTest_1.0.0.exe

6) From command prompt, run "C:\NativeAppTest_1.0.1.exe -silent"

The following is returned:

C:\>NativeAppTest_1.0.1.exe -silent

C:\>failed due to bad configuration

With AIR Runtime 3.3 installed, the same thing happens. The log file says:

[2012-07-25:15:58:40] Bootstrapper begin with version 3.1.0.4880 on Win x86

[2012-07-25:15:58:40] Installed runtime (3.3.0.3670) located at c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe AIR

[2012-07-25:15:58:40] Launching subprocess with commandline "Adobe AIR Application Installer.exe" -silent "C:\Users\D7378~1.REA\AppData\Local\Temp\AIR642F.tmp\NativeAppTest"

[2012-07-25:15:58:40] Application Installer begin with version 3.3.0.3670 on Windows 7 x86

[2012-07-25:15:58:40] Commandline is: -silent C:\Users\D7378~1.REA\AppData\Local\Temp\AIR642F.tmp\NativeAppTest

[2012-07-25:15:58:40] Installed runtime (3.3.0.3670) located at c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe AIR

[2012-07-25:15:58:41] Validating app in folder C:\Users\D7378~1.REA\AppData\Local\Temp\AIR642F.tmp\NativeAppTest

[2012-07-25:15:58:41] Application signature verified

[2012-07-25:15:58:41] Unpackaging/validation complete

[2012-07-25:15:58:41] Installed app (NativeAppTest) located at C:\Program Files (x86)\NativeAppTest\NativeAppTest.exe

[2012-07-25:15:58:41] Bad configuration: mode is silent install, but the app is installed

[2012-07-25:15:58:41] Application Installer end with exit code 9

[2012-07-25:15:58:41] Subprocess Application Installer failed (9)

[2012-07-25:15:58:41] Bootstrapper end with exit code 9

Using Flex SDK 4.6.0 and AIR SDK 3.3, I exported another Native Installer and tried again:

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Bootstrapper begin with version 3.3.0.3690 on Win x86

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Installed runtime (3.3.0.3670) located at c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe AIR

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Launching subprocess with commandline "Adobe AIR Application Installer.exe" -silent "C:\Users\D7378~1.REA\AppData\Local\Temp\AIR2F6A.tmp\NativeAppTest"

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Application Installer begin with version 3.3.0.3670 on Windows 7 x86

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Commandline is: -silent C:\Users\D7378~1.REA\AppData\Local\Temp\AIR2F6A.tmp\NativeAppTest

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Installed runtime (3.3.0.3670) located at c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe AIR

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Validating app in folder C:\Users\D7378~1.REA\AppData\Local\Temp\AIR2F6A.tmp\NativeAppTest

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Application signature verified

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Unpackaging/validation complete

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Installed app (NativeAppTest) located at C:\Program Files (x86)\NativeAppTest\NativeAppTest.exe

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Bad configuration: mode is silent install, but the app is installed

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Application Installer end with exit code 9

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Subprocess Application Installer failed (9)

[2012-07-25:16:09:22] Bootstrapper end with exit code 9

I noticed the logs keep saying Windows 7 x86 but I'm actually running Windows 7 x64.

Could this be the problem? If not, what else could I try?

[chris.campbell]

Hmm, I think I initially missed the fact that you were doing an update.  How about doing an uninstall then an install?  A kludgey workaround, but it's worked for others in the past:

http://forums.adobe.com/message/3051845#3051845

Personally, I'd recommend using the captive runtime and then rolling your own installer but I understand the convenience factor.

[RandomReado]

2+ years later and I still cannot update a native application silently. I am surprised Adobe have not resolved this issue yet. Why is that?

[malik79766761]

Is it still the same? No silent update for apps with native installers? Is there request ticket for this?